A CYCLIST is getting on his bike to help the fight against pancreatic cancer.
John Leathem will be pedalling 650km across South Korea in memory of his brother Brendan, a well-known Leamington painter and decorator who lost his life to the killer disease aged just 47.
The father-of-two will be raising money for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund which research early diagnosis and treatments in a bid to beat the cancer.
The retired Ford Motor Company director will ride from the city of Busan in the south of the country, to the capital Seoul in the north. The 54-year-old will set off on April 9, and expects to be in the saddle around five days.
John said: “Just over a year ago my younger brother Brendan lost his life to pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed in June and died in November the same year. I didn’t know anything about this cancer, but what I do know now it is very aggressive with a low survival rate. The reason is, the cancer is difficult to detect at the early stages so is not diagnosed until it is too late. So research to help early detection will help save many lives.
“Cycling almost the length of South Korea will be a challenge at over 600km in a few days so If I can raise a small amount of money for a worthwhile cause I will be happy.
“I have chosen South Korea, because I volunteered there last year and really like the country and it’s people.
“I am funding the entire trip to Korea myself so any donations go straight to the pancreatic cancer research charity.”
Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/john-leathem2 to donate.
